Page 33 of Protect Me

I run a hand through my hair and return to folding the laundry, no longer finding satisfaction in finishing the chores around the house.It isn’t that I miss the danger from my time with Shane.

I miss him.

I tell myself the feeling will pass.That once I return to work, I’ll have no time to be emotionally down and lonely.I’ll fall back into the comfort of routine and the excitement and challenge of the lab, where I always find satisfaction.

My doorbell rings, and I drop my nightshirt into the laundry basket, grateful for the reprieve, and head downstairs to answer it.

I open the door to find my brother on the other side.We look alike with our dark brown hair and similar features, and today he is dressed in a pair of cargo shorts and a T-shirt.Totally casual.

“Surprise!”Tate says, pulling me into a big hug.

I squeeze him back.“What are you doing here?”I ask.

I’ve seen him since my return.He showed up on my doorstep, coming to Dallas before going home to New York.He wanted to see for himself that I survived my ordeal intact.He is an awesome big brother.

But it isn’t like him to just show up in town without calling first.

“You sounded down last time we talked, and I knew you had some time off, so I figured I would surprise you with a short visit.”

I squeal in excitement.“I’m so glad you’re here.”

I look around but don’t see any bags.“Where’s your carry-on?”I know he travels light.

“I didn’t want to intrude on your privacy.I figured I’d stay in a hotel, and I already checked in and got rid of the luggage.”

“Silly.You know you can stay here.”I pull him inside and shut the door behind him.

“Can I get you a drink?”I offer.

“Do you have a beer?”

I grin.“From your last visit, I do.”

He follows me to the kitchen, a sunny room with stainless appliances and light-wood cabinets.He turns the chair around and straddles it while I pick out two bottles.

Why not join him?

A few minutes later, we are each enjoying a cold brew.“Are you looking forward to getting back to work?”he asks.

I settle into the chair across from him.“You have no idea how much!I miss being busy.”I wrap my hands around the bottle, cold with condensation.

“Is that all you miss?”he asks, tipping the bottle back so he can take a long sip.

I narrow my gaze, annoyed he won’t just be direct with her.“Why don’t you just say what you mean?”

Tate places the beer on the Formica table.“Do you miss Shane?”He meets my gaze with his direct one.

Tate isn’t that much older, but he’s always been able to pry a secret out of me, and on his last visit, I admitted something had happened between his best friend and me.I’ll never tell him details, and he won’t want to know, but he wasn’t surprised we got together in some way.

“What makes you say that?”I ask, being deliberately dense.

He rolls his eyes.“Apart from the fact that I hear it in your voice, I know you.You’ve had a thing for Shane for years.”Before I can argue, he holds up a hand.“And vice versa.I saw it in high school when you tutored him, and more recently, I could tell by the way he’d ask about you…and you’d avoid questioning me about him.”

I frown.“Who knew I was obvious?”I mutter.

“Only to someone who loves you…and knows you both well.”

I pause for a small sip of beer, savoring the malty taste.“It was a casual thing,” I murmur, lying to myself…as well as to him.